(AllHipHop News) The New York based lyrics website Rap Genius was among 50 sites to receive a take down notice from the National Music Publishers Association yesterday (11/11). The NMPA is demanding that the named sites obtain proper licenses to publish the lyrics of copyrighted songs or remove the lyrics from their sites.

Chief Executive of the NMPA David Israelite told Billboard that his organization’s objective does not include websites that legally publish lyrics, personal blogs, or fan sites. According to Israelite, the NMPA is “targeting fifty sites that engage in blatant illegal behavior.”

The take downs notice are the first step in the NMPA’s campaign. If the named sites refused to adhere to their requests then copyright infringement lawsuits may be filed. The NMPA recently won a $6.6 million judgement against the unlicensed lyrics site LiveUniverse and another against LyricWiki for an undisclosed amount.

“We can’t wait to have a conversation with [the National Music Publishers Association] about how all writers can participate in and benefit from the Rap Genius knowledge project,” said RG co-founder Ilan Zechory.

The NMPA’s list of 50 sites is based on a study conducted by University of Georgia researcher David Lowery with Rap Genius being named the worse offender. The rankings were based on specific methodology created by Lowery.